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Celebrating the Legacy of Norman Armstrong-Kersh MBE. KCOM

17 Sep, 2025

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Celebrating the Legacy of Norman Armstrong-Kersh MBE. KCOM
Springing in to Action!
25th Anniversary Newsletter
Community Wildflower Meadows – Working in Partnership

Help us raise funds for Hospitals, Hospices and other Health Care related organisations

Last Month, the @hs2ltd North West Community Engagement Team joined us to volunteer at Lightshaw Meadows in Golborne- a site hoped to become a memorial forest in the future. 🌳 The team worked hard to collect the tree guards that were removed from trees that no longer need them and crown-lift trees, improving light and access by clearing branches blocking the pathways. These efforts help create a safer, brighter, and more welcoming space for visitors. Huge thanks to everyone involved #community #woodlandmanagement #volunteering #greenspaces #greatermanchester
🌳 It’s Love Parks Week!🌳 This week, we’re celebrating the incredible role parks and green spaces play in our lives. supporting our physical and mental wellbeing, and bringing communities together with places to pause, breathe, and reconnect. It is our mission is to enhance these special spaces by creating a peaceful memorial forests inside our beloved parks, where people can remember their loved ones. This post highlights our wonderful partnership at Wythenshawe park with @manchestercitycouncil and at Tandle Hill Country Park with @loveoldham Why not explore these Memorial Forest this weekend and tell us about your visit. #loveparksweek #memorialforests #lifeforalife #natureforwellbeing #greenspacesmatter #communityinnature #biodiversity #natureheals #parksforpeople #greatermanchester
️ Our Summer Newsletter is Now Live! ️ Sign up to our newsletter and be the first to hear about: New memorial forest locations Volunteering opportunities Site updates and ongoing works The incredible charities and organisations we support It’s the easiest way to stay connected and see how your support is making a difference across our memorial forests and communities. Sign up through the link in our bio ️ #memorialforest #newsletter #summer #grief #griefjourney #community #treeplanting #trees #forests #nature
It’s Bees’ Needs Week! (14–20 July 2025) Bees, like the one pictured here foraging on a thistle at our Crook O’Lune Memorial Forest, play a vital role in pollination, biodiversity, and food production. Pollinators are a priority for the UK government, and a key part of delivering the Environmental Improvement Plan. At Life for a Life, we’re proud to support this mission by creating spaces where bees and other pollinators can thrive. With the help of our partners, families and supporters we have established over 11 acres of wildflower meadows across our memorial forests, giving local pollinators a natural, safe place to feed, pollinate and flourish. The aim of Bees’ Needs Week, led by @defrauk to raise awareness and encourage simple actions we can all take to help pollinators: - Grow nectar-rich flowers, shrubs, and trees - Let patches of land grow wild - Cut grass less often - Avoid disturbing nests and hibernation spots - Think carefully about whether to use pesticides. Everyone has a part to play in restoring our natural world. By supporting pollinators, we support the future of our environment. #beesneedsweek #pollinatorsmatter #nature #bees #wildflowermeadow #savethebee #ukpollinators #griefjourney #inlovingmemory
It’s Bees’ Needs Week! (14–20 July 2025) Bees, like the one pictured here foraging on a thistle at our Crook O’Lune Memorial Forest, play a vital role in pollination, biodiversity, and food production. Pollinators are a priority for the UK government, and a key part of delivering the Environmental Improvement Plan. At Life for a Life, we’re proud to support this mission by creating spaces where bees and other pollinators can thrive. With the help of our partners, families and supporters we have established over 11 acres of wildflower meadows across our memorial forests, giving local pollinators a natural, safe place to feed, pollinate and flourish. The aim of Bees’ Needs Week, led by @defrauk to raise awareness and encourage simple actions we can all take to help pollinators: - Grow nectar-rich flowers, shrubs, and trees - Let patches of land grow wild - Cut grass less often - Avoid disturbing nests and hibernation spots - Think carefully about whether to use pesticides. Everyone has a part to play in restoring our natural world. By supporting pollinators, we support the future of our environment. #beesneedsweek #pollinatorsmatter #nature #bees #wildflowermeadow #crookolune #savethebee #ukpollinators
Balsam Bashing at Plumpton Clough! A huge thank you to the brilliant CPI volunteers who joined us this week to remove invasive Himalayan balsam Why do we pull it up? It might look pretty, but it spreads rapidly and outcompetes native plants. When it dies back in winter, it leaves bare soil behind, increasing the risk of erosion. This is our second year removing the balsam and are already seeing the benefits, with more space for wildflowers like the beautiful orchids we spotted. EXCITING NEWS! A brand new Memorial Forest is coming to Plumpton Clough - Register your interest through the link in our bio #BalsamBashing #HimalayanBalsam #MemorialForest #InvasiveSpecies #LifeForALife #Volunteering #teamwork
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday at Crook O’Lune Floodplain Meadow for our Himalayan Balsam Bashing session! Thanks to this brilliant efforts, we managed to fill five large ton bags with Himalayan balsam. These will be kindly collected and composted by @lancashirecc so nothing goes to waste. Why do we pull it up? Himalayan balsam may look pretty, but it’s an invasive species that spreads rapidly and outcompetes our native wildflowers. By removing it, we’re giving local plants the space and sunlight they need to thrive! There’s still plenty of balsam to tackle, so if you’d like to get involved, we’d love to hear from you. Every pair of hands makes a real difference. #Volunteer CrookOLune #InvasiveSpecies #ProtectWildflowers #CommunityConservation #ThankYou #TeamWork #CommunityVolunteers
This #ChildrensHospiceWeek, we wanted to take a moment to thank you. With your support, we’ve been able to donate over £20,000 to children’s charities since 1999. One of our core aims is to use any surplus we generate to support health-related causes — and together, we’ve helped make a real difference. It’s a powerful thing to be able to create hope and support from the sadness of loss. Thank you for helping us do just that. #CharitySupport #InMemoryGiving #MakingADifference #SupportChildren #HopeThroughGrief #GivingBack #HealthAndHope #TogetherWeCan #LifeForALife
Volunteers Wanted! Join us on Sunday 29th June, 2–4pm at Crook O’Lune Floodplain Meadow, Lancaster (LA2 9HU) for a Balsam Bashing session! what3words: ///corrode.alarm.hobby Help us protect the local environment by tackling the invasive Himalayan Balsam! Learn how to spot it and the best techniques to remove it. No equipment needed. Please dress for the weather and wear appropriate outdoor footwear.
Foxgloves are bringing a splash of colour to The Mosses Memorial Forest at Beacon Fell These tall, striking flowers (Digitalis purpurea) are a favourite of pollinators like bumblebees, who are drawn to their bright colours and crawl inside the bell-shaped flowers to collect pollen, all while helping the plants reproduce.
It’s Volunteer Week and we just want to say a huge THANK YOU! To every one of you who’s given your time to support our team and local community groups, thank you. Whether you’ve been out litter picking, planting orchards, bashing balsam or helping to restore pathways, your efforts have made such a difference to our memorial forests and the people who love them. You’ve not only helped us care for these special places, but also brought people together, supported local communities, and made things possible that we couldn’t have done alone. #VolunteerWeek #ThankYouVolunteers #CommunitySpirit #TogetherForNature #MemorialForests #PeoplePower #NatureMatters #Teamwork #Volunteers #charity #Community
Spotted in the Crook O’Lune floodplain meadow today, a bee making the most of the early-blooming Melancholy Thistle This native plant is a great nectar source, supporting pollinators throughout the summer months. #WildflowerMeadow #floodplainmeadows #MelancholyThistle #SaveTheBees #PollinatorsInAction #Lancashire #Lancaster #Bees #summer
We were honoured to welcome the Brookhouse family as they planted a memorial tree in memory of their loved one at our Lowes Road Memorial Forest. Their kind words mean the world to us: “Me and my family would like to say a massive thank you to your grounds team - Philip and Chloe were amazing. Everything was perfect, we had a very special and lovely day.” We are so grateful that families choose us to be part of such a meaningful occasion. #MemorialTree #TreePlanting #Grief #GriefJourney #FamilyTribute #InLovingMemory
NEW: Half Moon Bay Memorial Forest Last week, we celebrated the official opening of our beautiful new memorial forest at Half Moon Bay, Heysham, in partnership with @lancaster_city_council . We were honoured to be joined by representatives from the Council and @greenfingerscommunityproject , who helped mark the occasion by planting the first three memorial trees. Overlooking the stunning Heysham Coastline, this truly special setting offers a peaceful place for remembrance. In addition to planting memorial trees, this coming winter we’ll also begin managing the existing woodland and carrying out pathway restoration works to improve access and enhance the overall visitor experience. 🌳 To dedicate and plant a memorial tree at Half Moon Bay, visit the link in our bio. #MemorialForest #HalfMoonBay #TreePlanting #HeyshamCoast #MorecambeBay #new #grief #community #charity
We could watch the bumblebees buzzing around our memorial forests all day. This busy little bee was happily hopping between Ragged Robin and Lesser Spearwort at @themerseyforest_official Griffin Wood. A reminder of how full of life these special places really are #WorldBumblebeeDay #Bumblebee #BuzzingBees #MemorialForests #WildflowerMeadow #NoMowMay #ProtectPollinators #UKWildlife #bees #spring
A huge thank you to the volunteers from Crane Payment Innovation who brought positive energy and sunshine to last week’s litter pick at @unitedutilities Strinesdale Country Park. #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek #LitterPicking #WellbeingInNature #Teamwork #CommunityAction #VolunteeringMatters #CleanGreenSpaces #NatureAndMentalHealth #CorporateVolunteering
Spotted a busy bumblebee enjoying the alliums planted in our Clowes Park Memorial by @rhsbridgewater , the @salfordrangerteam Team and local volunteers. Thanks to #NoMowMay, these beautiful blooms are thriving, and so are our pollinators. #PollinatorsInAction #BumblebeeSpotting #Salford #LetItBloom #insectsofinstagram #community
Mental Health Awareness Week & Invasive Species Week Spending time in nature is one of the simplest and most effective ways to support your mental wellbeing and there’s no better way to do it than by giving back to the environment we love. Join us and the Community Patch Pollinators on Saturday 29th June at Crook O’Lune for a Balsam Bashing event, helping to remove invasive Himalayan balsam and protect our beautiful native wildflowers. Not only will you be supporting biodiversity, but you’ll also enjoy fresh air, gentle exercise, and the sense of purpose that comes from connecting with people and nature. Date: Saturday 29th June Location: Crook O’Lune Time: 14.00 - 16.00 #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek #InvasiveSpeciesWeek #BalsamBashing #CrookOLune #GetOutside #NatureForWellbeing #CommunityAction
A beautiful morning on Nab Hill spent with families, planting memorial trees and honouring loved ones. #memorialforest #memorialtree #plantatree #trees #forest #woodland #springday #sunshine #lancashire
“My Great Grandad is now back together with my Great Grandma in the tree. We thought it was a lovely way of having them live on.” For the Edwards family, planting a Life Memorial Tree meant more than remembrance - it meant togetherness. One tree, shared between two lives, now growing in their memory. Memorial trees can honour more than one person - bringing loved ones back together, side by side, in nature. This #DyingMattersWeek, we’re sharing real stories of how love and memory continue to grow when choosing to plant a Life for a Life Memorial Tree. Sutton Bingham Memorial Forest – @wessexwater_ #MemorialTree #LivingLegacy #TogetherAgain #DyingMattersAwarenessWeek #ComfortInNature #FamilyRemembrance #MemorialTree
For the Ainsworth family, visiting their memorial tree at Dove Stone has become a peaceful part of life - not just on anniversaries or birthdays, but whenever they feel the need. During #DyingMattersWeek, we’re sharing stories that show how nature can offer comfort, continuity, in places that are beloved by the whole family. Dove Stone @unitedutilities #LifeForALife #DyingMattersAwarenessWeek #MemorialTree #DoveStone #GriefSupport #LivingLegacy #ComfortInNature #FamilyTraditions #RememeberingLovedOnes
Deciding what to do to honour a loved one can be difficult — especially when they haven’t made any plans. But finding the right way to remember someone can bring immense peace. For the Thomas family, planting a Life Memorial Tree offered comfort, closure, and a lasting tribute to their mum’s life. This @dyingmatters Week we’re encouraging open conversations about death, grief, and meaningful remembrance. Blagdon Lake Memorial Forest Bristol Water #dyingmattersawarenessweek #MemorialForest #GriefSupport #LivingLegacy #ComfortInNature #grief #loss #letstalkaboutdeath #memorialtree #rememberalovedone
It’s Dying Matters Week – a time to talk openly about death, dying, and grief. When we plant memorial trees, we meet families and individuals at all stages of grief. Some come with heavy hearts, freshly grieving; others arrive years after a loss, seeking a quiet place to reflect and reconnect. Every story is unique, and every tree is a living tribute to a life loved and remembered. Grief doesn’t follow a straight path, and that’s okay. - - To learn more follow: @dyingmatters @hospice_uk Or visit: dyingmatters.org - Marklands Reservoir @unitedutilities #DyingMattersWeek #dyingmattersawarenessweek #GriefJourney #MemorialTrees #LifeForALife #TalkingAboutDeath #LivingLegacies #hospicecare
Spring has sprung at our Indians Head Memorial Forest, Dove Stone with the Birch, Rowan and Beech trees adding some lovely colour to the landscape. Please remember that if you are on site over the bank holiday weekend, take your litter home and do not bring BBQs and open fires and follow the countryside code. #dovestonereservoir #dovestones #indianshead #memorialforest #countryside #oldham #lifeforalifememorialforest #takeyourlitterhome #blueskies #nature #landscape
This year, we’re proud to take part in @plantlife.loveplants #NoMowMay across our memorial forests. At Life for a Life, our mission has always been about creating living legacies to help nature thrive. No Mow May supports that vision, helping our forests become vibrant habitats for wildlife, and peaceful places of remembrance for families. We’ve already seen the rewards: a dark edged bee fly an active pollinator, recently spotted at our Blagdon Lake Memorial Forest. #LifeForALife #MemorialForests #WildlifeFriendly #NoMowMovement #NatureFirst #PowerToTheFlowers #NoMowMay2025 #FlowerPower #BritishWildflowers #Wildlife #pollinatorsMowMovement #NatureFirst #PowerToTheFlowers #NoMowMay2025 #FlowerPower #BritishWildflowers #Wildlife #pollinators
A massive thank you to the incredible volunteers from CPI in Royton who joined us and the team at @northernrootsoldham to help improve the pathways at Bankfield Clough, located at the southern end of the Northern Roots site. Thanks to their hard work and some trusty tools, these steep and muddy pathways are now much safer for visitors. Life for a Life is proud to create tranquil memorial forests where people can commemorate their loved ones. We’re delighted to be partnering with Northern Roots to transform two meadows into thriving wildflower spaces, with an accompanying Life for a Life Memorial Forest. This forest will feature native tree species such as English oak, silver birch, hornbeam, hazel, and hawthorn. These meadows will offer peaceful, accessible places for remembrance, while also providing valuable habitats for local wildlife. Life for a Life will manage and maintain these areas responsibly to help protect and enhance Northern Roots’ unique biodiversity and ecology. If you’re interested in planting a Life for a Life Memorial Tree at Northern Roots, you can register your interest on our website - https://www.lifeforalife.org.uk/forest-locations/northern-roots/ Learn more about regenerative land practices, and how @northernrootsoldham are turning 160-acres of urban green into a diverse and sustainable site - https://northern-roots.uk/visit-us/the-site/regenerative-land-practices/
Wildflowers are starting to bloom across our memorial forests, so we’re once again joining @plantlife.loveplants for “No Mow May”! By delaying our grass cutting which traditionally we would have started in April, we’re giving vital wild plants like primroses, cowslips, English bluebells, and wild garlic a chance to thrive — just like the ones we’ve spotted at our @unitedutilities Marklands, Torside, as well as Croft Field. Please excuse the wilder look this spring, as we embrace the weeds, it’s all part of supporting biodiversity and our precious pollinators. #nomowmay #nomowmay2025 #memorialforest #memorialtrees #lifeforalifememorialforest #peakdistrictnationalpark #englishbluebells #wildgarlic #biodiversity #wildflowers #naturephotography #conservation
Community in Action Yesterday, Jack and an incredible team of volunteers from @cpi_euvending , @sholvermillenniumgreentrust, Sholver Travel Futures, @groundwork_gm and the local community came together to tackle litter and fly-tipping around Sholver and Fullwood Together, we collected a huge amount of waste, helping to make these areas cleaner, safer, and greener for everyone. A big thank you to @loveoldham for arranging waste collection and disposal, and @firstchoicehomesoldham for kindly sponsoring the litter pickers. - #DontTrashOldham #CommunityCleanUp #Sholver #Fullwood #TeamWork #LoveWhereYouLive #VolunteerPower #KeepItClean #OldhamCommunity #Oldham
🌳 This week, Jack took on the challenge of planting not one, but TWO new community orchards at our Lowes Road and Fusiliers Meadow Memorial Forests! He planted a whopping 15 standard-size fruit trees – a lovely mix of apple, cherry, and pear – all set to bring a boost of biodiversity and a treat for our local pollinators. Even better? These windfall orchards are there for everyone to enjoy – feel free to pick and eat the fruit when it’s ready! 🍐 A huge thank you to our friends at @cityoftreesmcr for funding the fruit trees as part of the Northern Forest #GrowBackGreener initiative - - #CommunityOrchard #fruittrees #MemorialForests #Biodiversity #NatureForAll #pollinators #springtime
Spring has officially sprung! Our latest newsletter is out now – packed with exciting updates on what we’ve been up to since the start of the year, plus a sneak peek at what’s coming over the next few months. 🌳 Tap the link in our bio to have a read! – #SpringingIntoAction #SpringTime #MemorialForests #GreenLegacy #CommunityRoots #Newsletter #CharityNews #MemorialTrees #TreePlanting #Community #2025

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'Life for a Life' Memorial Forests, registered charity in England & Wales (1096422).
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